4.22.2013

I know it goes without saying that God is both
beginning and end, top and bottom, left and right, first and last, Alpha and Omega,
the one that was, is and always will be. Colossians 1:15-17 describe Jesus as
the image of the invisible God, that all things that are created in heaven and
earth, both visible and invisible, throne and dominions, principalities and
powers were created through Him and for Him. He is the all and all, the great I
AM. If you ask, “is He” His answer is, “I am”. He is the I am healer, the I am
strength, I am provider, I am grace, love, life, peace… Basically any problem,
any situation or storm, He is the “I am” answer. There is not anything that
you’ve been through, are going through or will ever go through that Jesus is
not the answer to. He has already accounted for all possible outcomes and has
planned every contingency. He has taken into account every sin and mistake you
have, are, or will ever commit and has paid the price… IN FULL!!!

That being said,
may I encourage each of us to examine our hearts and thoughts? There are many in
the body that feel as though their life of service to God is a favor. As though
they go to church so now the Almighty owes them. They worship and praise… I
mean they even tithe and because they do all of these “favors” for God then God
better do what they want, when they want and how they want. Some may even feel
that because they said a prayer that this entitles them to salvation.

Listen bud, that’s just not
the way it is. Salvation is not a favor given to God. It is a body that was
broken and blood that’s been shed. All is all and can’t be any more then all.

Romans 11:33-36Oh, the depth of the riches both of the
wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways
past finding out! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or
who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”36 For
of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.
Amen.

There are no favors done for God, not praise, not
worship, not tithing, not attendance, not service, not love, not nothing!
(double negative, I know) My point is this: even the things we do for God, the
love we give to God, began with Him and it is Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary
that enables us to access the grace it takes to love the Lord and to do His
will.

4.12.2013

We live in a society that has such low expectations on its
participants. Oh sure, we tell ourselves and others, “You can do anything” or “
You can be whatever you want to be.” But, when it comes down to what is, being
what is, do we really believe that? Not believe in the some casual passer by
sense, but believe in an intimate and real sense, like my life depends on it
sense, like nothing else matters sense. My point being if we don’t really
believe it then is the one we are saying it to really able to believe it?

Then if we base our expectation on what we really believe,
really, really believe, then I can honestly say our true expectations are
considerably lower than they should be. Allow me if you will to take this train
one step farther and say what we believe is not simply a state of mind, but a
state of action, a state of life. To simply say we believe isn’t really worth
the hot air coming out of our mouth. What we believe needs to have a little gas
in the tank and fire on the plugs. So if we then take the reality of our
actions and not simply the hot air billowing from our lips and let that be the
basis of our expectations. Then I say once again and though you shake your head
no defiantly it doesn’t change the reality that our expectations are considerately
lower than they should be.

Look, my friend, Jesus was and is the only man that ever
lived that truly had His expectation meter right where it was supposed to be at
100%. He walked it, He talked it, He lived it, He did it BUT!!!! Most
importantly He died for it. He died that, that walk and talk, that lived and
did, might be expected by you. Just consider that for a moment the very low
expectation that Christian society has on salvation. In so many ways salvation
is a prayer we say so we don’t have to endure hell for all eternity. Jesus did
not allow His body to be broken, His precious blood to be shed, His very life
to be taken so you could say a prayer. He died the death that He died so that
you could live a life, so you could live a life of talking and walking and
living and doing. He died because of the great expectation He has in you. He
doesn’t just say He believes you can do anything, but He died so you would.

4.06.2013

One of my favorite chapters in all of Scripture is Matthew Chapter Twenty-Five. Jesus is winding down His earthly ministry taking place just two
days before the Passover at which He will celebrate a final meal with those
closest to Him. Following dinner they will escape to a solitary garden to pray
before He is arrested.

In this passage Jesus tells us three stories and over the next few days
we will cover each of the three.

The first story is one of preparation. In verses one through thirteen,
Jesus tells of ten virgins. Five of these virgins were wise and the others were
foolish. All ten were virgins, all ten filled their lamps, all ten went out to
meet the bridegroom. But the Bridegroom delayed, and did not show at the time
they thought that He would. As a matter a fact, by the time the announcement
came that the bridegroom was about to enter, all of the virgins had fallen fast
asleep. Being roused from their sleep, they trimmed their lamps and prepared to
go out and greet Him.

Here is where the story turns, for the five foolish
virgins had not brought extra oil and began to ask the wise if they might
borrow some. The five wise respond wisely. “There is not enough for all of us.
Quickly go to the market and purchase some”. While away the bridegroom enters,
the wise virgins are there to greet Him and they are escorted into the feast.
Later the foolish come and beg entrance, the bridegroom says to them “I don’t
know you”.The word “know” here
means to have intimate knowledge of. It speaks of closeness, intimacy it even
goes on to indicate the closeness between a husband and a wife.

Ten virgins we have in all, five are wise and five are foolish. All are
virgins, all are pure, all have oil, all have lamps, all go out and all fall
asleep. But then Jesus, the bride groom, doesn’t do what those that are pure
thought He would. (Stop and consider how often that happens, only all the time)
When Jesus doesn’t arrive when He was “supposed to”. Whatever that is, as if we
are the ones that can say what He is “supposed to” do or when He is “supposed
to” arrive. Then when He doesn’t show in man’s time, but He is God and shows
right when He has meant for all eternity to show.

We have the foolish virgins
who have done everything right except one thing: they thought the bride groom
would come according to their time line… BUT He doesn’t, and because He doesn’t
they haven’t enough oil. As so many that are foolish often do they try to get
some oil, some anointing, some intimacy, from those that seem to have extra.
But understand this is not extra oil, this is just enough oil to stand when the
standing is needed. Some may ask why do we pray so much, why do we worship so
much, why do we remain in the word so much? My friends it’s not extra it is only
enough. When the bridegroom arrives I want to be among those that are “known”.

Welcome

Hey Everyone! I hope you enjoy going on this journey with me as we seek the face of our LORD and experience His wonderful and powerful presence. I also pray that you would be blessed by this blog and that GOD would change you!

About Me

God has given me the honor of being the pastor to only the greatest church since the dawn of time, Cliffdale Christian Center. We are a bunch of crazy in love with Jesus Christians. Its not what we do but who we are. If you ever get a chance come and check us out at 6427 Cliffdale Road.